PHILADELPHIA - Marcos Cruz-Diaz, 34, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged today by indictment with obstruction of justice for allegedly tipping off the target of an Internal Revenue Investigation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.
According to the indictment, Cruz-Diaz was a paid informant for several federal government agencies. In his capacity as an informant, Cruz-Diaz became aware of the Internal Revenue Service’s ongoing investigation of tax return preparers and employees of a tax preparation business with offices located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and their intent to execute search warrants at the offices of the tax preparation business and to engage in an undercover operation.Cruz-Diaz knew someone who was involved in an intimate relationship with a tax return preparer associated with the targeted business and allegedly informed that person of the Internal Revenue Service’s plans.Cruz-Diaz subsequently met with that tax return preparer and allegedly demanded $2,000 for providing the tip. He allegedly offered to provide the tax return preparer with a list of 25 client files that were in the tax return preparer’s possession, that contained incriminating information, and to prepare a video that the tax return preparer could use as a defense, in exchange for an additional $25,000.
If convicted, Cruz-Dias faces a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
